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Understanding Substance Use as a Coping Mechanism: Embracing Intentionality

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By: Abby (Abigail) Burd, MSW, LCSW, LCS26867 Coping mechanisms are the strategies and behaviors we use to manage stress, navigate challenges, or cope with difficult emotions. These can range from healthy habits to less optimal choices. Sometimes we reach for alcohol or drugs as coping mechanisms. It’s important to recognize that these coping strategies emerge from a genuine need for relief, comfort, or escape. MiraCosta College mental health counselors emphasize understanding and acceptance without judgment. This helps us approach discussions around substance use with compassion and empathy. The Role of Coping Mechanisms Many of us turn to substances not out of recklessness, but as a way to manage stress, pain, or overwhelming emotions. This coping mechanism is rooted in a basic human desire for relief and well-being. Acknowledging this can shift the conversation from stigma and shame to understanding and support.  What might it be like to say, “thank you” to the substance for serving
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I’ve seen my partner behave differently, why can’t it happen again?

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by Nidya Ramirez Ibarra, LMFT Nidya Ramirez Ibarra is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who grew up in Escondido, CA. An immigrant and past community organizer, Nidya utilizes her knowledge and years of experience as a therapist to co-create a space to initiate change, gain insight, build skills, and establish support. Prior to joining the mental health team at MiraCosta College, among Nidya’s experiences was working for 8 years at a local non-profit with families, individuals, and children struggling with trauma due to intimate partner violence and sexual abuse. In addition to working with student in individual, relationship, and family counseling sessions, Nidya also facilitates MiraCosta’s UPRISE support group for undocumented/ mixed status students and their loved ones. During almost a decade of working in therapy with individuals who had been victims of intimate partner violence I heard many inquire, with the hopes of a promising answer, whether
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Recovery Support Group Wednesdays 12-1 pm

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By Tammah Watts Tammah is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who is certified as a SMART Recovery Facilitator, Clinical Trauma Professional, Domestic Violence Advocate, and Mindfulness-Based Meditation Facilitator. Her book, Keep Looking Up: Your Guide to the Powerful Healing of Bird Watching, was published by Hay House in 2023. “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger — something better, pushing right back.” – Albert Camus Welcome to summer semester 2024! This time of year can feel a little less rushed in terms of the pace of how things move along. The soon-to-be warmer days invite many of us to take it easy. It can also be an opportunity to pause and take stock of where you are in life midway into the year. Doing so can be helpful to evaluate and determine your intentions going forward. For the first time thi
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Adult Children of Alcoholics

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By Arianna Escobar, LPCC Arianna received her M.S. in multicultural community counseling and social justice education from SDSU (CBB program. She has worked with diverse populations including adults, adolescents, and system-involved youth and families. Arianna is passionate about strengthening clients’ relationships with themselves and increasing their sense of self-compassion and authenticity in order to live a more fulfilling life.  Substance abuse can be difficult for the entire family. Let's talk about some of the issues adults may face after growing up with a parent who suffers from alcoholism. Common childhood experiences Throughout childhood, it is common for children to experience trauma due to alcohol abuse in the home. Some children may observe or experience abuse, violence, neglect, and/or abandonment. There may be chaos in the home and children can be put into a position where they take over the parent roles. Their family members may be struggling with mental illness th
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Saturated fat protects the liver!

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By Kim Marquardt, MSN, RN, PHN This blog post is from the Nurse Kim archives of myth busting. I want to share some "alternative" or maybe just lesser known health and wellness viewpoints for you to chew on. *These posts are not intended as official medical advice. They ARE meant to be fun, informative, and thought provoking, hopefully sparking an interest for you to do your own research (you can start with the links I provide!) and discover the marvels of the human body, and how it can function at its optimal performance level if we understand how it works and interacts with our environment and our diet. I have a passion for health and wellness through lifestyle and nutrition and have done thousands of hours of research in addition to being a registered nurse for 24 years. I have done A LOT of self-experimentation in and around diet, lifestyle, body care, and supplementation and have spent a lot of time looking into the science behind it all (or lack thereof!). Check back reg
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Yoga Practice to Support Recovery

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By Julie Choi Julie is a counseling intern and graduate student working towards a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at National University. Julie began teaching mindfulness practices in 2003, specializing in the traditional method of Ashtanga Yoga. Like yoga, Julie believes that therapy should be a client-led process that unfolds in a supportive and accepting space in which students can feel safe and free to have their unique and evolving needs responded to with a compassionate and individualized approach. Come check out Julie’s 5-minute yoga experience and many other events at Health Services’ upcoming Wellness Festival on Thursday, April 11th, from 11 am – 2 pm   According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSUDH), about 1 in every 12 American adults have experience with substance abuse. Holistic approaches to managing addiction have been shown to counteract the symptoms of addiction as well as to aid in its recovery. Yoga is a complementary practice that is ofte
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I was wrong about nutrition

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By Kim Marquardt, MSN, RN, PHN This blog post is from the Nurse Kim archives of myth busting. I want to share some "alternative" or maybe just lesser known health and wellness viewpoints for you to chew on. *These posts are not intended as official medical advice. They ARE meant to be fun, informative, and thought provoking, hopefully sparking an interest for you to do your own research (you can start with the links I provide!) and discover the marvels of the human body, and how it can function at its optimal performance level if we understand how it works and interacts with our environment and our diet. I have a passion for health and wellness through lifestyle and nutrition and have done thousands of hours of research in addition to being a registered nurse for 24 years. I have done A LOT of self-experimentation in and around diet, lifestyle, body care, and supplementation and have spent a lot of time looking into the science behind it all (or lack thereof!). Check back reg
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